Flood Waters Are Now Subsiding

Flood waters from the Eystri Skaftárketill caldera have begun to subside, and south Iceland’s bridges and roads have been spared considerable damage.

RÚV reports that the bridges over Eldvatn and Kúðafljót have withstood the flood waters that began earlier this week, and appear to be subsiding. The Road and Coastal Administration is now trying to direct waters away from Route 1 between Eldvatn and Kirkjubæjarklaustur.

“From what we’ve seen, what we’re looking at now is that the flood waters are decreasing,” Deputy Chief of Police Hjálmar Björgvinsson told reporters during a press conference today. “Although there is still an enormous amount of water still coming down from the glacier.”

Measurements taken of the flooding showed, in fact, that this has been the largest glacial flooding of the Skaftá River since measurements began to be taken.

The Road and Coastal Administration used machinery to make earthen dikes along key parts of the national highway, and by both eyewitness accounts and measurements taken, the waters now appear to be subsiding.

“This seems to have gotten results,” police representative Víðir Reynisson told reporters. “The water has decreased here near the road. But it is happening slowly, and we are paying close attention.”